Bill Bray

William Paul Bray

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School College of William and Mary
• High School Ocean Lakes High School
• Debut June 3, 2006
• Final Game July 30, 2012
• Born June 5, 1983 in Virginia Beach, VA USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Bill Bray was selected by the Montreal Expos in the first round (13th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft after going 4-4 with 8 saves and a 2.44 ERA (third in the CAA) plus 84 strikeouts in 59 innings. He was signed by scout Alex Smith for a $1.75 million bonus and made his pro debut that summer. Bray started with the Brevard County Manatees, posting a 4.91 ERA and notching a save while losing twice in 6 games. He split the next season between the Potomac Nationals, Harrisburg Senators, and New Orleans Zephyrs, going 3-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 34 games between the three clubs. He began 2006 with the Zephyrs and went 4-1 with a 3.98 ERA and 5 saves before making his big league debut with the Washington Nationals. Shortly after reaching the majors, he was sent to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a multi-player trade. Between the two teams, he went 3-2 with a 4.09 ERA and 2 saves in 48 appearances.

Bray began the 2007 season on the disabled list and, after making rehab appearances for the Sarasota Reds and Louisville Bats, was optioned to Triple A Louisville. He was 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 18 games out of the bullpen for the Bats before being recalled by the Reds in August. He posted a 1.93 ERA in his first 11 outings in the majors but put up a 14.40 ERA after that. Overall, he made 19 appearances, going 3-3 with a 6.28 ERA and a save. He made 9 appearances with the Bats, then was with the Reds for the remainder of the year in 2008, pitching 63 games to a 2.87 ERA and a 2-2 record; he struck out 54 batters in 47 innings. He missed almost all of 2009 with an injury, limited to 3 outings with Louisville. Bray came back in 2010, pitching 10 games in the minors (4 with the Lynchburg Hillcats and 6 with Louisville), not giving up a run before making his return with the Reds. He pitched 35 times for the NL Central champions, with an 0-2 record and a 4.13 ERA. He was by then a full-time LOOGY in the majors, as his 35 games only resulted in 28 1/3 innings. He pitched twice in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, not allowing a run or a hit and striking out two batters in 1 2/3 innings. In 2011, he spent the entire season in the Reds' bullpen, making a career-best 79 appearances (48 1/3 innings) with a 2.98 ERA. His final season, 2012, saw him log only 14 appearances in the majors with a disappointing 5.19 ERA. After a season back in the Nationals minor league system (4 scoreless appearances for the Double A Harrisburg Senators), he announced his retirement on Twitter in March 2014.

Related Sites

• Bill Bray on mlb.com